In the 2019 documentary Dosed, viewers are introduced to Bobby, a man whose life story serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating effects of addiction. His journey is not just a personal tragedy but also a reflection of the broader opioid crisis that has gripped many communities. This article delves into Bobby’s storyline, examining how his experiences and eventual death underscore the urgent need for effective addiction treatment and support systems.
The Rise and Fall of Bobby
Bobby’s life was marked by early promise and potential. However, like many others, he found himself ensnared by the allure of drugs. His descent into addiction was gradual but relentless, mirroring the experiences of countless individuals who turn to substances as a means of coping with life’s challenges.
Early Life and Influences
Growing up in a challenging environment, Bobby faced numerous obstacles that shaped his worldview. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his later struggles with addiction.
The Allure of Drugs
As Bobby navigated the complexities of adulthood, he encountered the seductive pull of drugs. What began as recreational use soon spiraled into dependency, highlighting the thin line between casual use and addiction.
The Impact of Addiction on Bobby’s Life
Addiction took a significant toll on Bobby’s personal and professional life. Relationships deteriorated, and opportunities slipped away, leaving him grappling with feelings of isolation and despair.
Bobby’s storyline in “Dosed” has always been sad, although it ends on a hopeful note. He grieves at the church and talks to Father Brian (Gavin Stenhouse) about Brook’s (Noelle Parker) upcoming birthday, where she would have been thirteen. When the 118 gets drugged, Bobby gets high and starts to believe that he can see Brook. He calls Taylor Kelly (Megan West) by Brook’s name and tries to teach her a science experiment, believing her to be Brook. Later, Bobby winds up on the roof of the 118 fire station, trying to get to Brook. Athena finds Bobby up there, where he delightedly tells her that he can see Brook again and feel her presence. Athena manages to get Bobby back down by grounding him in the reality of the two of them, and the episode ends with him joining her family for May’s (Corinne Massiah) homecoming pictures.
Now knowing that Bobby will die six seasons later, his storyline in “Dosed” makes the episode that much more heartbreaking. Bobby worked so hard to manage his sobriety, yet it is broken without his knowledge or his choice when Sandy drugs the brownies. Bobby tries to join his family while high, but Athena is the one to pull him back to reality, and to encourage him to keep going and to embrace being alive. He says as much to her during their goodbye in “Lab Rats.” Bobby tells Athena that LA was only initially about saving enough lives to make up for the fire, but that she made him want to be alive and build a home. “Dosed” is the perfect example of this, where even high, Bobby chooses a life with Athena over death with his other family.
Bobby’s storyline in “Dosed” is very intentional, as he initially struggles to be happy about May’s homecoming due to his grief about the milestones that his children will never reach. When Athena talks him down from the roof, though, Bobby is finally able to make it past his grief enough to embrace his role as Athena’s partner, and as May and Harry’s (Marcanthonee Jon Reis) eventual stepfather. Looking back, that final scene of Bobby joining the Grant family is bittersweet, because he will have to leave them six seasons later. The beauty pageant scene will always be one of 9-1-1’s funniest, but “Dosed” ultimately is a much harder episode to rewatch now in light of Bobby’s tragic death.
